The Week India - July 29, 2018

84 THE WEEK^ • JULY 29, 2018

COVER STORY

TRAVEL

orange marigolds seemed reason enough to visit

the village of Kabini, which is a feast for your

senses. Th ere is the irresistible smell of fresh-

ly-ploughed earth, the sound of children running

with their herds of goats and cows, and the sight

of the farmers driving their bulls in the fi elds.

I go there with a local man, who, to my sur-

prise, begins conversing with me in my moth-

er-tongue Malayalam with an ease uncommon

in non-Malayalis. Apparently, he learnt it during

his days selling cattle in Kerala. He tells me that

the marigold fl owers have been recently cultivat-

ed for their coveted essential oils, which sup-

plement the income of the struggling farmers.

Th e neighbouring resorts also help by providing

employment to the locals and by purchasing the

farmers’ produce.

He takes me to meet some naughty and curi-

ous tribal children at the Viveka Centre for Tribal

Learning, which provides free education to the

children, as well as accommodation and food to

the boys. I also visit Health EnRich, a health food

enterprise run by the local tribal women that

helps sustain the farmers by being their largest

buyer of ragi. It is easy to fall for the charm of

these new-age tribal women, as I come back with

a bagful of tasty ragi treats! Th e tribal women’s

collective is trying to preserve the age-old tradi-

tions of the tribal community by teaching them

to the new generation of tribals. I was fortunate

to watch a tribal dance, which was surprisingly

performed by men! Its choreography mimicked

the dance and music performed at a tribal wed-

ding and funeral.

To see a people content with the life of bullock

cart travel, hand water pumps and hand grinding

of grain is an experience that encourages city

dwellers like me to slow down and appreciate

life.

A beautiful

peacock

stretches on the

trunk of a fallen

tree, basking in

the morning sun

and doing his

morning yoga.